Chapter 3

The fetal monitor was lifted from my chest, and the doctor began reading the data.

I looked at the cold, unmoving Vincent and made myself speak.

"Vincent, what kind of treatment are you giving Lois?"

"What treatment could possibly require you, and only you, to be alone with her?"

My throat was parched by the time I finished, and I waited quietly for his answer.

Vincent frowned, about to say something.

Then the doctor cried out, stunned.

"Mr. Weiss, the baby moved nine times yesterday?!"

Nine times?

I froze.

The baby had been gone since early yesterday morning. How could there be any movement?

"That data has to be wrong—"

The words rushed out of me.

Before I could finish, Vincent's brow drew tight.

"Olivia, you did something wrong, so you have to accept the punishment."

"We agreed. However many times the baby moved, that's how many times your mother's oxygen mask comes off."

"Nine times. Two minutes and twenty-three seconds total."

"Do you want it done all at once, or in stages?"

Cold as a block of ice. I stared at Vincent, unable to believe it.

Then his phone rang.

"Vincent, Lois has taken a sudden turn for the worse. Get to the hospital, now!"

The voice on the line had barely stopped.

Vincent lowered his eyes, anger burning under his voice.

"You two make sure my wife completes the punishment. Record it and send me the video."

Every word clipped and precise, he turned and strode out.

The disbelief still hadn't left my eyes as I grabbed his hand in a panic, trying to explain.

"Vincent, our baby is already gone—"

"Olivia, stop making excuses!"

"The way you are right now, you disgust me!"

The words on my lips died against the thick disgust and disappointment in Vincent's eyes.

For a few seconds, my head roared.

My fingers twitched beyond my control, and my nose and mouth felt as if I'd been dragged into deep water.

For a moment I couldn't breathe.

Outside the villa, a car tore away down the drive.

My body went slack all at once, and I collapsed to the floor.

"Ma'am, come with us to the hospital."

The bodyguard's voice was flat, and they hauled me off to the hospital.

Standing in the ward again, my eyes were numb with despair.

The person lying here should have been me.

At the critical moment of the crash, my mother had used everything she had to shield me.

She was covered in blood, and her last words were:

"Thank God our Livvy is safe..."

Vincent had once held me and sworn, over and over, that he'd save her.

And now, it had only been a year...

Tears fell without my knowing, scattering across the floor as my trembling fingers pulled out my phone to reach Vincent.

【I'm begging you, please don't take my mother's oxygen mask off again.】

【Vincent, this is all my fault. I never should have sent you that fetal movement video.】

【Punish me however you want...】

【I'm begging you. My mother is all I have left...】

The dozens of texts I sent vanished like stones dropped into the sea.

I read the screen again and again.

There was never a reply from Vincent.

"Ma'am, we're starting now."

The bodyguard held up his phone to record and reached out to lift my mother's oxygen mask.

I threw myself forward to stop him.

And was pinned down, hard.

Once.

Twice.

......

Seven times.

My mother's oxygen mask was pulled off seven times in all.

Each time longer than the last.

The tears in my eyes ran dry, and my throat was raw and bleeding from screaming.

Two minutes and twenty-three seconds.

Finally, it was over.

The bodyguard let go, and I lunged to fit the mask back over my mother's face.

My eyes fixed on the heart monitor.

One second.

Three seconds.

Ten seconds.

The line stayed flat.